Lincoln, an early riser, was up at 5 a.m. on March 4, 1861, putting the final touches on his 35-minute inaugural address in which he famously called for saving the Union.

There was strict security surrounding the new president, elected with less than 40 percent of the popular vote. Seven states had already seceded from the Union, and a Confederate flag could be seen flying on the Virginia side of the Potomac.

Lincoln entered the city in an open carriage through a secret route guarded by rifle-ready federal soldiers on rooftops.

While the lunch was modest, Lincoln’s inaugural dinner was more elaborate, featuring a sugar centerpiece model of the newly constructed Capitol building.